About Brookfield Zoo

The mission of the Chicago
Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting
people with wildlife and nature.

Since the opening of Brookfield Zoo in 1934, the Society has had an
international reputation for taking a cutting-edge role in animal care
and conservation of the natural world. Among its historical firsts are
indoor multispecies exhibits, zoo nutrition residencies, methods for
animal husbandry, and medical care that includes successful brain
surgery for a gorilla.

Today, there is an increasing need for conservation leaders to guide,
teach, and motivate people to protect the world’s threatened wildlife
and ecosystems. In addition to conservationists, the Society inspires
and engages children, students, teachers, and other among the general
public to make a positive impact on the natural world around them. From
protecting regional wilderness to creating environmental stewardship
through zoo interactions and educational opportunities, from guiding
future scientists to pioneering global conservation efforts, the
Society sits at the apex of care for animals and their habitats.

In building its legacy of animal care and compassion, the Society has
launched a leadership campaign to create two new centers: the Center for Conservation Leadership and the Center for the Science of Animal Well-Being
(CSAW). These innovative learning and research hubs will integrate a
wide variety of disciplines, changing the way animal conservation
issues are considered and advancing the science of “animal-directed”
care around the world.